Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

Job ID: 59614Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesPosted: 2026-07-16Company: Penn MedicineContact: Rachel Polhemus, Paul BohneContact Email: View email address on click.appcast.io University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine), based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is seeking a highly collaborative, visible, and operationally minded healthcare leader to serve as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (SVP/COO) as it enters its next chapter at a moment of extraordinary strength and meaningful inflection. As one of the nation's most respected academic health systems, with approximately 50,000 employees and $13 billion in annual operating revenue, Penn Medicine brings together world-class clinical care, leading-edge research, renowned academic programs, and a broad care delivery network spanning flagship academic hospitals, regional hospitals, ambulatory platforms, and specialized service lines.The next SVP/COO will join Penn Medicine at a pivotal moment, as the organization pursues a broad enterprise transformation agenda to strengthen operational performance, concentrate resources on the highest-priority strategic initiatives, and develop innovative care models that expand access and improve long-term sustainability. The new SVP/COO will join an organization with extraordinary strengths, including a highly collaborative culture, exceptional clinical and academic talent, significant research enterprise advantages, and a deep commitment to community. At the same time, Penn Medicine has identified a need for greater clarity, speed, enterprise alignment, and operational coherence as it continues to grow and as reimbursement and external pressures intensify. The overarching purpose is to transform healthcare delivery and improve patient care by rebalancing the system toward more integrated, accessible, and innovative ambulatory and community-based care models. The next SVP/COO will help lead that transition and strengthen alignment, integration, and performance across the system.This is an opportunity for a progressive, sophisticated executive leader who is energized by complexity, motivated by the mission of an academic health system, and excited to help shape the future of one of the country's premier integrated academic health systems. The COO will be an exceptional communicator and relationship builder, intellectually curious, and forward-thinking in anticipating trends and issues. The next SVP/COO will build on a strong foundation, guide Penn Medicine through its next stage of evolution, and influence patient access and care delivery, system strategy, operational performance, physician and leader engagement, and the organization's readiness for the next era of healthcare delivery—ensuring Penn Medicine continues to deliver meaningful impact for patients, communities, and the broader field of academic medicine.Expressions of interest, nominations, and applications are welcome and can be made via the WittKieffer Candidate Portal by using the buttons below. The Candidate Portal is a secure, easy way to nominate a colleague, express interest, or apply for a position. If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact Rachel Polhemus, Paul Bohne or Wendy Kerschner, preferably via email at View email address on click.appcast.io.